With two key players gone, serious injuries to Sandro and Younes Kaboul and a couple of summer acquisitions adapting slower than hoped, it was assumed that this would be a transitional season at White Hart Lane - yet expectations remained a top-four place.

Despite taking two points from nine in a slow start, Spurs found their ryhthm and have bobbed around the Champions League places ever since. Only now, at the business end of the season has their league position come under threat and Spurs face a fight to get back to the promised land.

Have Tottenham overachieved regardless? Some would say so. Scott Parker seems a shadow of the terrier that won the fans' player of the year award last year and Kyle Walker's promise has been undermined by sloppy, inconsistent displays. Yet there are three who stand out more than most.

For the latest in its series looking at all of Europe's top clubs, however, Goal.com has narrowed down the candidates for Tottenham's Player of the Season to just three names. Look them over and leave a comment if you disagree!

GARETH BALE | FORWARD

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

Booked

Sent off

League

27

17

3

4

0

FA Cup

2

1

0

0

0

Capital One Cup

1

1

0

1

0

Europe

8

3

3

3

0

Total

38

22

6

8

0

Few thought that Gareth Bale could improve on last season, especially with two of the club's most creative players sold in the summer, and yet he has elevated his game to the upper echelons of Premier League standards. As if galvanised by the added weight of expectation, Bale has evolved into a versatile forward, capable of hurting teams from the right, left or middle.

Gone are the days where it was capable to double-mark his left flank and be done with him; Bale has made no secret of his attempts to emulate idol Cristiano Ronaldo and at times has done a passable impression. Stunning goals against West Ham and Norwich City kept Spurs chugging along when it looked as though the demands of the Europa League were catching them, before he then turned his attention to Europe and helped the side negotiate their way past Lyon.

The 23-year-old is now one of the most sought-after players in the world and Tottenham will have a fight on their hands to keep hold of him. His career-high tally of 17 league goals also seems likely to land him the PFA Player of the Year award, which, ahead of Robin van Persie, would be quite the testament to his powers.

MOUSA DEMBELE | MIDFIELD

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

Booked

Sent off

League

27

1

3

4

0

FA Cup

2

0

0

0

0

Capital One Cup

0

0

0

0

0

Europe

10

1

0

1

0

Total

39

2

3

5

0

When Luka Modric departed and a deal for Joao Moutinho fell through, you could be forgiven for thinking that there would be a gaping hole in the Tottenham midfield this year. Yet the £15 million purchase of Fulham's Mousa Dembele has proved to be nothing short of a masterstroke.

The Belgian adapted quickly to life at White Hart Lane, scoring from the bench on his debut against Norwich and forcing his way into the first team. His partnership with Sandro in the first half of the campaign gave the side the foundation to build and he has barely looked back since.

Ice-cool on the ball and deceptively strong, Dembele has come into his own when faced with a marker in front of him. His ability to beat a man is unrivalled and tenacity in the challenge has seen him emerge as almost the complete midfielder. A few more goals and assists would not go amiss but he has made a significant impression in his first year at Tottenham.

JAN VERTONGHEN | DEFENDER

Competition

Games

Goals

Assists

Booked

Sent off

League

28

4

3

6

0

FA Cup

1

0

0

1

0

Capital One Cup

2

1

0

0

0

Europe

12

1

0

1

1

Total

43

6

3

8

1

Jan Vertonghen also arrived in the summer and has quickly developed into a fan favourite at Tottenham. 'Super Jan', as he has come to be known, is certainly a modern-style centre-back - as you would expect from anyone emerging from Ajax.

The left-footed defender has had to display versatility in covering Benoit Assou-Ekotto's injury problems and, consequently, a taste for getting up and down the left wing. However, as he has maintained, his home is at the heart of defence, where his sometimes cumbersome turn of foot is less exposed. It also adds an elusive edge to the Belgian as he showed against Swansea City when he twice marauded forward to score and assist in a 2-1 win.

There are elements of his game that need ironing out but this has been a tumultuous first year at Tottenham - he has played a lot of games and been asked to adjust to the far quicker nature of the Premier League to the Eredivisie. Goalscoring defenders are few and far between - especially ones with Superman celebrations.

For the latest in its series looking at all of Europe's top clubs, however, Goal.com has narrowed down the candidates for Tottenham's Player of the Season to just three names. Look them over and leave a comment if you disagree!